The Vikings

Overview

Discover the full impact of Viking civilization—from fierce warriors to skilled merchants and explorers—in this 36-lecture masterclass by an award-winning historian.

Course No. 3910

This digitally remastered classic course reveals how Norse culture transformed medieval Europe through raids, trade, and settlement from Russia to North America.

Course Content

Origins & Society

1. The Vikings in Medieval History (31 min)
   • Separating myth from reality through archaeology

2. Land of the Vikings (30 min)
   • How Scandinavia’s harsh landscape shaped Norse culture

3. Norse Gods & Legends (31 min)
   • Odin, Thor, and the Viking worldview

4. Viking Art & Poetry (30 min)
   • Runes, sagas, and intricate craftsmanship

Expansion & Conquest

5. Viking Ships: Engineering Marvels (31 min)
   • The technology that enabled global exploration

6. Raids on England & France (31 min)
   • From Lindisfarne to the Siege of Paris

7. The Danelaw (31 min)
   • How Vikings permanently changed England

8. Founding of Normandy (31 min)
   • Rollo’s descendants would conquer England

Global Reach

9. Iceland: Viking Democracy (31 min)
   • The world’s first parliamentary government

10. Vinland: Vikings in America (32 min)
    • The doomed North American settlements

11. Swedish Vikings in Russia (30 min)
    • How the Rus shaped early Russian states

12. Varangian Guards of Byzantium (30 min)
    • Norse mercenaries in Constantinople

Transformation & Legacy

13. Cnut the Great’s Empire (32 min)
    • When a Viking ruled England and Denmark

14. Christianization of Scandinavia (31 min)
    • How faith replaced Norse paganism

15. From Raiders to Crusaders (31 min)
    • The Viking Age’s surprising conclusion

16. Enduring Viking Influence (34 min)
    • How Norse culture shaped medieval Europe